The distribution and prevalence of zoonotic pathogens infecting ixodid ticks in Western Europe have been extensively examined. However, data on ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine are scarce. The objective of the current study was, therefore, to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in engorged and questing ixodid ticks collected from five administrative regions (oblasts) of Ukraine, namely Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Ternopil, and Vinnytsia. The ticks were collected from both wild and domestic animals and from vegetation. Of 524 ixodid ticks collected, 3, 99, and 422 ticks were identified as Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes ricinus, and Dermacentor reticulatus, respectively. DNA samples individually extracted from 168 questing and 354 engorged adult ticks were subjected to pathogen-specific PCR analyses. The mean prevalence in I. ricinus and D. reticulatus were, respectively: 10 % (10/97) and 3 % (12/422) for A. phagocytophilum; 69 % (67/ 97) and 52 % (220/422) for members of the Anaplasmataceae family; 25 % (24/97) and 28 % (117/422) for Rickettsia spp.; 3 % (3/97) and 1 % (6/422) for Babesia spp.; and 9 % (9/97) and 5 % (20/422) for Bartonella spp. Overall, between the five cities, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of any of the pathogens for the respective ticks (p > 0.05). The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s. l. in the questing and engorged I. ricinus varied from 0 to 27 % and 14-44%, respectively, with no statistical significance identified between the five cities (p > 0.05). In addition to reporting the updated data for Kyiv and Ternopil, this study is the first to provide the prevalences of the tick-borne pathogens for Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, and Vinnytsia. This investigation is also the first to detect Neoehrlichia mikurensis in ixodid ticks from Ukraine. These new data will be useful for medical and veterinary practitioners as well as public health officials when diagnosing infections and when implementing measures to combat tick-borne diseases in Ukraine.

Ticks are important vectors of numerous pathogens of medical and veterinary significance. The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of Babesia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in sled and pet dogs from Central and North-Eastern Europe. Neither Babesia spp. nor Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infections were detected in sled dogs from seven countries (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Russia and Finland). The DNA of Babesia spp. was detected in 100% of symptomatic and 5.4% of asymptomatic pet dogs from Poland. Similarly, the DNA of Babesia spp. was identified in 82% of symptomatic and 3.8% of asymptomatic pet dogs from Ukraine. The DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 4.4% of pet dogs. Molecular typing confirmed the presence of Babesia canis and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) in selected samples. Four dogs were co-infected by B. canis and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Tick-borne pathogens constitute a serious health threat to pet dogs in Central and South-Eastern Europe, but were not observed among sled dogs from the same region of Europe nor in the Baltic countries.

During recent years, infectious and invasive animal diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoa and transmitted by ticks have been a new problem in medical and veterinary practice. Many of these diseases are zoonoses and lead to the disability and mortality of humans and animals. Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus are species of ticks that are commonly attack animals and humans in Europe. These ticks are spread throughout the EU and are involved in the transmission of a large number of vector-borne diseases. To date, relatively limited data on the circulation of tick-borne diseases and their transmission in western Ukraine are presented. The purpose of this study was to monitor the types of ixodid ticks, as well as to identify pathogens in ticks collected from the environment in urban parks and from dogs and cats. A total of 215 ticks (22 Ixodes ricinus and 193 Dermacentor reticulatus) collected in two regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk were investigated. Pathogens, namely, Rikettsia spp., Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Bartonella spp., were detected in 64.0% of the I. ricinus ticks. Overall, 18.2% of I. ricinus ticks were positive for Rikettsia spp., 54.5% for Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, 9.1% for A. phagocytophilum and Bartonella spp. confirmed in 4.5% of the studied ticks. Mixed infestations were found in 5 samples of I. ricinus DNA, representing 22.7%. In addition, 74.6% of D. reticulatus ticks were infested with these pathogens. Overall, 30.0% of D. reticulatus ticks were positive for Rikettsia spp., Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis was confirmed in 54.9%, A. phagocytophilum in 1.6%, and Bartonella spp. in 6.2% of the studied ticks. Mixed infestations were found in 35 D. reticulatus DNA samples, representing 18.1%. The prevalence of Rikettsia spp. in two regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, among the studied ticks was 28.8%, Bartonella spp. – 6.0%, A. phagocytophilum – 2.3%, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis – 54.9%. Our data indicate the presence of pathogens in urban populations of ticks of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus in west part of Ukraine. Monitoring of tick-borne diseases is an important tool in the prevention and control of infections transmitted to humans and animals.

During the 2018–2019 years, 2884 ticks were collected from five species of animals, including pets (dogs and cats), cattle (cows and horses) and wildlife (wild boar) in Khmelnytsky, Chernivtsi and Vinnytsia regions. Ixodid ticks were identified as: D. reticulatus (2370; 82.2 % of all collected ticks), I. ricinus 510 (17.7 %) and 4 of I. hexagonus (0.1 %) from cats. Adult D. reticulatus (77 %) and I. ricinus (23 %) were detected in dogs. Ixodid ticks collected from horses were D. reticulatus (95 %) and I. ricinus (5 %), and from cows – D. reticulatus (93 %) and I. ricinus (7 %). I. ricinus was the predominant tick collected from cats (58 %). 100 % of D. reticulatus was collected from wild boars. Most ticks were collected during the spring tick activity between March and May. However, D. reticulatus was found on animals every month, including the winter. D. reticulatus males accounted for the overwhelming majority of ticks collected in winter (68 % for dogs, 84 % for wild boars). In all other seasons D. reticulatus females prevailed – 66 % in dogs, 77 % in horses and 71 % in cattle, in all areas. In addition, 4 females of I. hexagonus were removed from the cat in June. The average number of ticks per animal was about three ticks among dogs, two in cats, fourteen in cattle, seven in horses and seven in wild boars. Particularly high amount of D. reticulatus was recorded on cattle and horses in the spring. The relatively high amount of I. ricinus was observed in cats in the spring months. To evaluate the natural biocenoses of the three ticks species in the study areas, the ticks were collected using a flag in urban parks and rural areas. Two types of ticks were found in open areas. The density of adult D. reticulatus ticks in the open areas was relatively high, above 20 mites/1000 m2 in most places. The density of adult ticks of I. ricinus was significantly lower in the typical habitat (forests), within 3 mites/1000 m2, several times lower than the density of D. reticulatus in the typical habitat. Thus, in the western regions of Ukraine, two species of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus mites are widespread in natural biocenoses, as well as in farm and domestic animals, D. reticulatus is the dominant species. This type of tick is active throughout the year, so constant preventive treatment of animals is required to prevent infection with tick-borne diseases.

The object of this study is the regularity of changes in the biogenic destructive effect of microorganisms on the concrete structural elements of livestock facilities due to the use of the original liquid phase mixture of disinfectant based on aldehyde and surfactant. Microorganisms use construction materials as a substrate for growth and nutrition; they produce citric acid, which leads to a change in the composition and morphology of hydrated cement new formations. The composition of the microflora of the pigsty has been determined, and the minimum concentration of disinfectant based on glutaraldehyde and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride was found. By the TPD MS method, a decrease in the intensity of carbon dioxide (CO₂) release in concrete samples during the heating of the sample to 900 °C was proved, compared to the control intact corrosion sample. Electron microscopy of concrete samples shows the presence of destructive changes and colonies of micromycetes. It was established that calcite was intensively released in the control sample of concrete, which retained its integrity and was not subjected to corrosion when heated to a temperature of 600 °C. Electron microscopy confirms the preservation of the homogeneous structure of concrete. The use of a disinfectant based on glutaraldehyde and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride at a concentration of 1 % destroys colonies of micromycetes, 2 % – the shell of microorganisms, and 3 % – biofilm. Treatment of concrete with a disinfectant at a concentration of 3 % destroys microorganisms Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium oxalicum, inhibits the process of biological corrosion of concrete, and strengthens the structure of concrete. The results of the experiment can be applied to inhibit the corrosion of concrete and extend the life of building structures made of concrete through the use of a disinfectant based on aldehyde and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride at a concentration of 3 %.